The Office has stood the test of time. It has been 19 years since the show first aired, and its popularity doesn’t seem to be dwindling. Original fans have continued to watch re-runs, while new audiences are consistently realizing the excellence of the show. As with everything, there’s a chance that the program will eventually become a thing of the past, but there are plenty of reasons why fans will never get tired of The Office.
The creators found the perfect groove to fit the show into with iconic characters, sidesplitting humor, and a setting that a lot of people can relate to; these are just a few reasons that the mockumentary will never lose its audience.
The Mockumentary Style Adds a Layer of Realism
- There are 201 episodes of The Office.
Sitcoms are regularly filmed in a similar format, with characters unaware of being on TV. Series like Cheers, Friends and How I Met Your Mother are popular shows that follow the traditional layout. The Office took a different approach, and although it certainly wasn’t the first to use a mockumentary style, the show set the bar for other fake documentaries.
The benefit of a fictional documentary is that the show instantly becomes more credible. The characters are given more depth because audiences are watching them as if they are going about their daily lives and are able to forget that it’s scripted. The cameras are also able to capture “off” moments, where characters are unaware that they’re being filmed. Again, it drives home the notion of the series being real.
The Work-Place Themes Are Relatable
- Phyllis Smith was part of the casting team.
As a workplace sitcom, The Office relied upon incorporating themes that most people are able to relate to within their work environment. Michael’s work life encountered a lot of problems, some brought on by him, while others were down to the nature of being a branch manager. He faced sacking people, dealing with promotions, and taking the flak when product quality wasn’t up to scratch.
Others also experienced scenarios that are known to be part and parcel of working in close proximity with a number of colleagues. Angela became a nuisance to almost everyone, while the sales department had to deal with difficult customers, and Michael had a tendency to get on his employees’ nerves. The scenarios may have been frustrating for the characters, but audiences could easily relate to the themes.
Every Character Was Acted to Perfection
- John Krasinski nearly quit acting before landing the role of Jim.
For the most part, The Office cast included unknown actors. The decision played into the concept of a mockumentary seeming as real as possible. The show may have been a big break for many cast members, but the high standard of performance suggested they were all well-versed in their art.
Each character was well-defined in their goals and motives. The likes of John Krasinski (Jim), Jenna Fischer (Pam), Steve Carell (Michael), and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) embodied their roles, so much so that they are known by their characters’ names. The comedy was always well-timed, and the sadness hit viewers in waves, as they felt the pain every time a character had a bad experience. From the outset, it felt like the Dunder Mifflin employees already had a history with the company, and audiences were simply joining at a random point.
Even With Eccentric Characters, It’s Believable
- Rainn Wilson auditioned to be Michael.
Even with Dwight’s bizarre antics and Michael’s persistent, immature jokes, The Office remained believable. Dwight regularly had outlandish ideas. Whether preparing his colleagues with a fire drill that was way too realistic or running a questionable bed and breakfast at his beet farm, he remained the most unpredictable character of all.
When explaining such narratives, it’s easy to think the show has gone over the top and made it far too slapstick to be believable. Somehow, the writers and actors were able to tread the line between the two extremes and keep audiences hooked. Combining relatable work themes with fun characters worked brilliantly. And who knows, maybe there actually is a Dwight and Michael working closely together in an office, encouraging each others’ quirky traits.
The Story Lines Confront Tough Issues
- Jim’s proposal was the most expensive scene of the show.
The Office has the ability to get audiences to stop and think about what they watched, leaving them to ponder certain issues that are raised. There were a lot of high points for most of the characters. Jim and Pam got together, Phyllis married the love of her life, and even Michael managed to find his happy place with Holly and settle down with her. But life wasn’t always rosy for the Dunder Mifflin workers.
Before her relationship with Jim, Pam was caught in a toxic relationship with Roy. Angela had to deal with her husband having an affair with her co-worker. Erin longed to know who her biological parents were, and Dwight had to watch the love of his life with another man. Because of the plausible acting, viewers were able to feel like their favorite characters were really struggling through hard times, making the show more than just a straightforward comedy.
The Humor Caters to a Lot of Audiences
- Mindy Kaling, B J Novak, Michael Schur and Paul Lieberstein were all writers on the show.
If a comedy doesn’t hit all the right notes, then the humor falls flat, leaving audiences unimpressed. From the very beginning, The Office had viewers laughing. With it being inspired by the UK version, the creators had the foundations of a funny show to run, but they also managed to put their own stamp on the concept.
The funniest characters all brought a different kind of humor. Michael made viewers cringe so hard that it was nearly impossible not to find it funny. Jim’s level-headed views and dry wit appealed to those with a deadpan sense of humor. Creed was such a unique character who would get everyone giggling with the few lines he had. Even though various types of comedy were incorporated, it worked. It never seemed like the writers just couldn’t pick a comedic lane; instead, they knew how to intertwine diverse styles of humor to cater to a broad audience.
It’s a Comforting Watch
- Michael’s girlfriend, Carol, was Steve Carell’s wife, Nancy Carell.
There’s no denying that a good show with twists and turns and a plot that needs a great deal of concentration to follow can sometimes be the ideal program to watch. However, there are certain occasions that simply require a warm show that’s comforting to watch.
The Office provides exactly that. Those who are well-versed in the narratives can pick specific episodes that will give them the “feel-good” factor, while new watchers can sail along with getting to know the cast. The endearing friendships and kind-hearted characters never fail to bring a smile, allowing audiences to get lost in the show.
It’s Long Enough for Audiences to Become Attached to Their Favorite Characters
- John Krasinski shot some footage for the opening credits.
The Office UK was much shorter than its US counterpart. With just two seasons, each consisting of six episodes and two Christmas specials, viewers didn’t have as long to get to know the characters, although they were still very well-developed. The latter American series ran for a total of nine seasons, spread across eight years.
In that time, the characters went through life-changing moments and, for the most part, grew up. Engagements, weddings and children all signified just how much the characters had moved on from where they had started on the show, and audiences were on board the whole way. The benefit of a long-running show is that viewers are always excited to know of the next installment to the characters’ lives. Would Jim and Pam get together? Would Michael ever be the great boss he could be? The questions kept coming, and audiences were eager to know the answers because they’d become attached to the characters.
It’s Easy to Follow Without Being Boring
- Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais are credited as executive producers.
The basic premise of The Office is relatively simple: Dunder Mifflin Paper Merchants’ employees are followed by a documentary crew, revealing their daily work lives and personal relationships. Its authenticity kept it as close to reality as possible, therefore making it easy to follow the plot.
Thankfully, its simplicity never made it boring. The writers didn’t become complacent in their work, nor did the actors lose the spark that kept their respective characters alive. To all intents and purposes, the employees were real people. As Pam so eloquently put it in the last line of the show, “There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn’t that kind of the point?” Their jobs may have been mundane at times, and they even felt like their lives had come to a halt. Yet, the narrative never fell flat, only ever highlighting the brilliance in the ordinary.
The Writing is Unique
- The Pilot’s script is very similar to the UK episode.
It’s not hard to find a comedy show to watch on telly. Whether through a streaming service, or a TV channel, audiences have a catalog of sitcoms at their fingertips to choose from. Consequently, creators have to make their shows stand out among the rest, which is precisely what The Office did.
The characters are hard to find elsewhere, and their life stories are all filled with unique moments. The writers did a wonderful job of combining humor, relatable themes, and tough issues to present one of the best sitcoms to date, a title that will likely stay with The Office for years to come.
